ROYALTON — The Selectboard appointed Tim Parker to fill a vacancy on the board that opened up last week after Bob Gray Jr. resigned.
Gray, 77, said that he stepped down effective immediately due to a generational difference in perspective between himself and the other Selectboard members.
“The world is a changing place, and I’m not,” Gray said in a Monday phone interview.
While he enjoyed his time working with the other four members, Gray found himself being outvoted on certain issues, though he was always given time to express his opinion, he said.
Another problem Gray pointed to was a personal preference against using electronic communication, such as email. He favors phone calls and physical documents.
The Selectboard unanimously voted to appoint Parker to replace Gray at its Tuesday meeting, according to a recording.
Parker had run an unsuccessful write-in bid for a Selectboard seat in the Town Meeting elections.
Kip Bergstrom, whose name was the only one for the position on the ballot, was elected for a three-year Selectboard term, earning 198 votes. Parker earned 161 write-in votes.
Parker, 38, is active in the community as assistant fire chief and as fire warden, he said in a Monday phone interview. He also puts on the annual Christmas light parade and maintains the ice rink.
“I grew up in the town and so I really feel that it’s home to me and that it’s very important that it stays that way,” said Parker.
Gray was elected last year to a three-year Selectboard term. With two years remaining, Parker will serve in the role until town election next March, at which point Royalton residents would elect someone to fill in for the final year.